ATLANTA — Erik Kratz may have won the backup catcher spot for the 2013 season.

The 31-year-old catcher, getting plenty of time during Carlos Ruiz’s injury, hit a towering home run in the top of the 9th to tie the game up, 5-5. The homer was Craig Kimbrel’s third blown save of the season.

One inning later, John Mayberry hit a three-run homer to left field to put the Phillies ahead 8-5 and Jonathan Papelbon nailed the door shut in the win. It was Papelbon’s 31st save of the season and 250th in his career.

Juan Pierre used his speed to leg out an infield single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Phillies an 8-7 win. It capped a four unanswered runs as the Phillies overcame a 7-4 deficit created in the 8th.

Jon Jay’s two-run double broke the 4-4 tie in the 8th inning, and it was followed up by an RBI from Matt Carpenter to make it 7-4. But like most of the game, when the Cardinals did something, the Phillies repsonded.

It was Erik Kratz who hit a three-run homer to tie the game up, 7-7, eventually sending it to extra innings. That enabled Pierre’s walk-off infield single in the 11th to win the game for the Phillies.

PHILADELPHIA — Bad news soured an already bad season for the Phillies earlier today when they learned All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz would be out until the middle of September with plantar fasciitis.

32-year-old Erik Kratz filled in the role just nicely, driving in two Phillies runs in a 3-0 win over Arizona Saturday night. It was another good showing from Kratz, who is playing for a potential back-up catcher spot for next season.

A Kratz solo home run in the 3rd inning was the game’s first run. It was the 4th homer on the season for Kratz, who has been up and down with the Phillies all season.

Yes his ERA is a blistering 1.95 but it’s the uncharacteristically high number of walks he’s thrown so far this season that has Doc feeling a little but under the weather. Through five starts (and a 3-2 record), Halladay already has thrown 10 walks, nine coming in the last three games alone.

In fact, Halladay walked three straight batters for the first time in his illustrious career over a week ago, a feat one would never imagine the masterful Halladay could pull off.

The reason for this can be related to Halladay’s small drop in velocity early on in the season. Doc has said that as he gets older it takes him a little longer to get stronger.

The Phillies have made a move, adding a right-handed bat to their bench now.

Erik Kratz has been called up by the Phillies, meaning someone will be heading to the DL very shortly. A betting man would put his money on Jim Thome, who has been deactivated the past two games. UPDATE: Thome was placed on the DL this morning with lower back tightness.

Kratz has three home runs and a .333 average with the IronPigs this season. He will add a right-handed bat to the bench, which usually takes a blow in that area with Ty Wigginton getting a lot of playing time and John Mayberry struggling.

Ryan Zimmerman’s pinch-hit single in the top of the 10th drove in the winning run on Michael Stutes to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead and win.

The result took away from an impressive start from Kyle Kendrick, who may just take Vance Worley’s spot in the rotation if they move Worley to the bull pen to prepare him for the post season.

Kendrick pitched six shut out innings, allowing only four hits while striking out four. His outing was matched by Nats starter Tom Milone, who also pitched six scoreless innings with four hits and two strike outs.